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Vanessa Bayer (born November 14, 1981) is an American actress, comedienne, and writer. Bayer is most notable for being a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2010 to 2017, which earned her an Emmy nomination. Outside of SNL, she co-created, co-executive producers, and has the lead role in the Showtime comedy I Love That for You, which is loosely based on her experience as a survivor of childhood leukemia. Bayer has also appeared in such films as Trainwreck (2015), Office Christmas Party (2016), Carrie Pilby (2016), Ibiza (2018), and Wander Darkly (2020).

She is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from Cleveland's Orange High School.

Prior to joining SNL, she performed improvisational comedy at Chicago's ImprovOlympic, Annoyance Theater, and Second City. She had previously appeared in a commercial for Blue Cross/Blue Shield,[1] and had auditioned for the Planters commercial "cashew perfume," but was not chosen[2](it eventually aired during Super Bowl XLII).

Bayer was hired to joined the cast of Saturday Night Live as a featured player for the show's 36th season on September 25, 2010. Beginning with the 38th season, Bayer was promoted to repertory status. In 2014, Bayer was nominated for an 2014 American Comedy Award for her work on SNL, and in 2017, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Bayer departed SNL on May 20, 2017, after seven years on the show.

In the March 10, 2018 episode, she returned to the show for a cameo appearance as her character Dawn Lazarus on Weekend Update.

She is also the co-creator, co-executive producer, and star of the 2022 Showtime series I Love That for You, in which she plays a woman that's a childhood leukemia survivor, who lies about her cancer coming back in order to keep her job.


Characters/Impressions[]

Characters[]

  • Addi "News Flash" Sweeney
  • Dawn Lazarus
  • KCA'S hostess Jesse Kerk-Fatone
  • Jacob
  • Kaddafi's best friend from growing up
  • Karen
  • Melanie (Supermarket Spree contestant)
  • Ms. Meadows
  • Rosa
  • Pippa
  • Rebecca Stern-Marcowitz-san
  • Toni
  • Richard the third's best friend growing up.
  • Laura Parsons
  • Brecky (Ex-porn star turned sales lady)

Impressions[]

SNL Career[]

  • 2010-2012: Featured Player
  • 2012-2017: Repertory Player
  • March 10, 2018: Cameo

Trivia[]

  • Because of the Season 40 intro, she is wearing her green two-piece dress she wore from the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards. This intro is also used as the Season 41's opening credits and the Season 42's opening credits for her 7th and final season.
  • Vanessa's brother Jonah appears with her in the live-action opening sequences from season 36 and season 40.

Gallery[]

References[]

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